Methods for autofluorescence analysis of uterine cavity washings

The diagnostics of endometrial pathology can be done by obtaining information at the molecular level, e. g. using the autofluorescence-based technique. Thus, for the first time an experimental study was performed on waste material of uterine cavity washing specimens to evaluate suitability of the technique for diagnostics. The specimens were obtained from 32 patients who had a conventional uterine hydrosonography procedure. A portable Nd:YAG 355 nm microlaser was used to excite autofluorescence at the point of care. Various algorithms of multivariate curve resolution and artificial neural networks were utilized for spectra analysis. The spectra were classified according to histological and ultrasound diagnosis. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to make statistical decisions. The results showed that it was possible to distinguish all compared groups: pathologic vs non-pathologic endometrium (sensitivity 97.3 +/- 5.2%, specificity 91.7 +/- 7%, AUC (area under the ROC curve) 0.96 +/- 0.04), malignant endometrium vs endometrial polyps (sensitivity 100 +/- 0%, specificity 92.0 +/- 10.6%, AUG = 0.98 +/- 0.07), and secretory menstrual cycle phase vs proliferative phase (sensitivity 87.5 +/- 13.2%, specificity 94.4 +/- 7.4%, AUG = 0.88 +/- 0.10). To conclude, uterine cavity washing specimens could be used for endometrial pathology recognition using the autofluorescence-based technique in clinical setting. It will possibly speed up the treatment decision making for endometrial pathology

Analysis of fluorescence excitation emission matrices of endometrical tissue

We have analysed an endometrial tissue fluorescence excitation spectra with a purpose to determine the characteristic wavelength of excitation for multiwavelength diagnostics of tissue. Fluorescence excitation-emission matrices from 200 to 500 nm excitation and 200 to 800 nm emission were measured as a supplementary data for previous measurements to unambiguously characterize biochemicals quantitatively in endometrial tissue

Associations of job, living conditions and lifestyle with occupational injury in working population: a population-based study

International audienceObjectives To assess the roles of job demands, living conditions and lifestyle in occupational injury. Mehods The sample included 2,888 workers, aged >= 15 years, randomly selected from the north-eastern France. The subjects completed a mailed questionnaire. Data were analyzed with adjusted odds ratios (ORa) computed with the logistic model. Results In total, 9.2% of workers had an injury during the previous 2 years. The high job demands: tasks at height, handling objects, pneumatic tools, other vibrating hand tools, work in adverse climate, physical workload, vibrating platform, machine tools, cold, heat, awkward posture, noise, hammer, and pace had crude odds ratios between 1.81 and 5.25 for injury. A strong exposure-response relationship was found between the cumulated job demands (CJD, defined by their number) and injury: OR 1.88 (95% CI 1.23-2.87) for CJD1, 4.39 (2.98-4.46) for CJD2-3, and 9.93 (6.70-14.7) for CJD >= 4, versus CJD0. These ORs decreased to 1.68, 3.70, and 7.15 respectively, when adjusted for sex, age, and living conditions/lifestyle confounders; and to 1.54, 2.99, and 5.45 respectively when also adjusted for job category. The following factors had significant ORa: age = 40 or with frequent drug use for fatigue compared with the others. Obesity had ORa 2.05 (1.11-3.78) among the subjects aged >= 40, and excess alcohol use had ORa 2.44 (1.26-4.72) among those free of disease. Conclusions This study identified a wide range of job demands and living conditions/lifestyle which predicted injury. Preventive measures should be conducted to reduce job demands and to help workers to be aware of the risk and to improve their living conditions/lifestyle

Methods for detailed histopathological investigation and localization of biopsies from cervix uteri to improve the interpretation of auto fluorescence data

Fluorescence spectroscopy is one of many optical methods that are potentially clinically useful for noninvasive detection and characterization of disorders on the cervical part of uterus, including precancerous lesions. The cervix uteri exhibits a biologically complex tissue and the morphology of a biopsy is generally not homogenous. The standard histopathological protocol accounts only for the most severe condition found within the biopsy and no information is given on other constituents potentially influencing the recorded fluorescence spectra. Spectra are usually correlated, using multivariate techniques, to the histopathological diagnosis of the biopsies. Since the probe volume of fluorescence spectroscopy is considerably smaller than the extension of the biopsy, this can cause problems in the search for correlation between the fluorescence signals and the pathological structures. In addition, the orientation and location of the biopsies are normally not recorded. We now report on the first detailed histopathological protocol where numerous tissue parameters, such as thickness and type of the epithelium and the number of blood vessels, glands, and inflammatory cells, are tabulated and the orientation and location of the biopsy are recorded as precisely as possible. Hopefully, the use of this protocol together with sophisticated mathematical methods will increase the probability to classify cervical disorders of the uterus, including precancerous lesions, with high sensitivity and specificity